RP: Family Matters

[shh_rabastan]

Date: 5 June 2005
Characters: Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange
Location: Old Stone Church
Status: Private
Summary: Rabastan invites Rodolphus to lunch and a chat about family.
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[shh_rabastan]

"The stone is beautiful now that it has been cleaned. Our business representative, Elizabeth, tells me she met someone who has run libraries in the past. I believe I am going to inquire if the lady is available to assemble the library for me. I have everything organized by subject in the crates, but a professional to shelve it all and create the catalog would be magnificent."

Rabastan smiled. "If your appetite has returned, I'd take that as a good sign. I am glad I made extra if you're hungry. Eat as much as you want. There is more." The table was set for two. Rabastan uncovered the tray and placed a crock of french onion soup in front of each of them. The platter of ham and cheese, and roast beef and cheese sandwiches went between them. "I wasn't sure if you still liked ham better than roast beef, so I made both. I hope lemonade is all right. It was rather warm today and thought it might be refreshing." Rabastan seated himself and smiled at his brother. "You look a bit less tired, but still not well rested. You said you are throwing yourself into your art again?"

[shh_rodolphus]

"I'll have to see it once everything is arranged."

Rodolphus grinned like a hungry wolf at the sight of the food. Remembering his manners, he didn't grab the soup and drown himself in it, although it was tempting. He filled a bowl full of the soup and took two of the ham and cheese sandwiches before pouring himself a glass of lemonade. He wolfed down a sandwich before realizing it and bit his lip after swallowing it down.

"My apologies, brother."

He laughed softly.

"Yes. Sketching mostly. Some of you, some of strangers. Some...of her."

Rodolphus' faint smile turned into a frown.

[shh_rabastan]

"You are welcome here anytime, Rodolphus. I certainly would not mind seeing more of you, but I have been remiss in letting you know that you are welcome to visit whenever you like. The wards have always been set to recognize you. If someone else is here, you will feel it in the wards when you pass the fence. I thought it wise to give you notice if I was otherwise engaged if you came to see me."

Rabastan shook his head. "There is no need to apologize. Food does not go to waste here. I have several friends I share extras with, as well as having a large appetite myself. I would send you food as well if you didn't have Zookie to cook for you, now that I know you'll eat my food that is. Ginevra told me you liked my Persian stew and flatbread. I remember when we were young, you used to avoid my cooking of foreign food. Either I have gotten better or have you gotten hungrier." He chuckled and teased his brother.

His smile died as Rodolphus' smile faded into a frown. "Her, being Ginevra?" At his brother's nod, Rabastan sighed. "Should I attempt to meddle further or leave myself out of it, Rodolphus? I tried once, but otherwise I have left her alone on the topic, although I do believe 'Gin' misses 'Rod', she is every bit as stubborn as I, and very likely more so."

[shh_rodolphus]

"I will surely spend more time here now that I am aware."

He ate another sandwich, although a bit more slowly than the first. Rodolphus drank his glass of lemonade before pouring another, all the while listening to his brother's words.

"Yes, I did like the stew." Rodolphus managed a small smile. "I think it is a bit of both, brother."

Rodolphus nodded at his brother's next words.

"I do not know, Rabastan. Truly. I miss her as well, but I'm not sure if I could take her direct rejection once more."

[shh_rabastan]

Rabastan smiled. It would be nice to see more of his brother.

It was good to see his brother eating. He chuckled. "I hope I am a better cook now than I was 12 or 13 years old, but I still enjoy cooking just as much."

He nodded. "I understand. She may come around on her own if she is given time." Rabastan regarded his brother. "Rodolphus, I wanted to talk to you about something that has been on my mind. I do not wish to bring up difficult topics for you, but I do not think I should be considering the future of the Lestrange Family without your input, Brother."

[shh_rodolphus]

Rodolphus began to eat the onion soup, making sounds of appreciation at its taste.

"You are certainly more skilled than you were as a youth, brother. I remember some of the failed attempts you dared me to eat."

He nodded soberly.

"I do hope so."

Rodolphus looked at Rabastan curiously.

"Ask away, brother."

[shh_rabastan]

"I suppose that early experiment with Hungarian food was a mistake, wasn't it?" He chuckled.

Rabastan sighed. "There really isn't an easy way to begin. I have been thinking about what should be done about our family legacy." Having spent the weekend in India with his mentor who continued to insist that Rabastan inherit, despite his repeated suggestions to bequeath to the university instead, Rabastan knew arrangements needed to made for the Lestrange Family. "You are still young enough to have a family, Rodolphus. Have you thought at all about whether or not you would like to remarry? I know Bella has not been gone long, and I do not want to pressure you, but have you considered the idea at all?"

[shh_rodolphus]

Rodolphus cringed in memory before laughing.

"Yes, indeed."

He listened carefully to his brother's next words, temporarily abandoning his food. Rodolphus blinked for a moment at what Rabastan said.

"I..." He was dumbfounded for a moment. "I have never thought about it. Even if I did, I doubt there are any here that would wed a Death Eater, much less have a child with one."

[shh_rabastan]

"That is also a problem, although it is not as difficult on the continent as here. However, excluding the difficulty involved in finding someone to love, assuming love is a factor for you, do you have any desire to have children? You and..." This was difficult. "your wife did not have children, but I do not know if this was by design or by fate. If you have no desire to father children, that creates a different set of decisions than if you would like to have them, but lack a wife who wishes them as well, does it not?"

[shh_rodolphus]

"Love is always a factor." Rodolphus said, and his voice came out colder than he intended.

He had loved Bellatrix, truly, even though it nearly led to his death.

"Bella never wanted children. She was too besotted with her Lord's will, and I'm sure she would have been the cruelest of mothers."

Rodolphus bit his lip.

"I have always wanted a child, but I dare not speak of it. Daughter or son, it matters not. But I fear their lives would be tainted by my past actions."

[shh_rabastan]

"Love should always be a factor, my brother. I would not wish it any other way, but I would not fault you for not agreeing with me." He knew his brother had dearly loved his wife. It had never escaped Rabastan's notice that each of the Lestrange brothers had a weakness for one of the Black sisters.

"It shouldn't be so hard." He shook his head. "What do you think we should do, Rodolphus? You make a very valid point about life for anyone bearing the Lestrange name being difficult."

[shh_rodolphus]

Rodolphus nodded, apologizing softly for his chill tone.

"I truly have little idea, brother. We cannot change the past, and the only outsider that has accepted me knew not of my name until recently."

He looked at his brother curiously.

"Do you not have a lover of some sort, a woman you would wish to bear a child with? I seek not to heave the duty onto your shoulders. I am simply curious."

[shh_rabastan]

Rabastan waved the apology away. There was no need, in his opinion. The conversation was difficult for both of them.

Rabastan took another bite of his soup and thought about their options. "Would it be so bad for the Lestrange Family to die with us? I know what Father's opinion would be, but what is yours?"

Rabastan could feel his cheeks coloring a tinge as his brother turned the question on him. He had rather expected it soon or later, but had hoped he might escape the question. That Rabastan loved children was well known, but his love for Narcissa had been voiced to no one except the woman herself. Looking into his brother's eyes for a long moment, Rabastan debated how much he should tell his brother. With no Bella and no Dark Lord about, Rabastan was inclined to take his brother into his confidence where he never would have before. The silence drew out and finally Rabastan nodded in decision.

Drawing his wands, Rabastan laid down a strong privacy spell, a perimeter ward, and cast for any living creatures in the space. Expelling even the smallest ant from within the ward, he addressed his brother. "I will have your oath, Rodolphus. This is to go no further than us and will only be spoken of in absolute privacy."

[shh_rodolphus]

Rodolphus frowned.

"I would like to think that there could be a new start for our family. That our line does not end with misdeeds and a dark past."

He raised an eyebrow as his brother stared at him and nodded before casting spells. Rodolphus blinked, confused.

"Of course, brother." He said, obvious not sure what the extent of his question had meant.

[shh_rabastan]

After the spells had been cast insuring their privacy and having his brother's oath, Rabastan took a deep breath. "I would like to think that a new start might be possible as well, Brother. However, it appears unlikely."

Rabastan took a deep breath. "There is someone, Rodolphus, but marriage... marriage is not... possible." Rabastan closed his eyes and took a breath. "I am in love, Brother."

[shh_rodolphus]

Rodolphus nodded, bothered by his brother's words but knowing them to be true.

His eyes widened slightly at what Rabasatan said next.

"In love? With who, pray tell?"